For a Healthy Student Body

Chicago Public Schools are stepping up to the HealthierUS School Challenge to confront the childhood obesity epidemic.

Next school year, Chicago Public Schools will partake in the Go for the Gold campaign to create healthier school environments and fight childhood obesity. As a part of the Michelle Obama-promoted HealthierUS School Challenge, the initiative will improve school food quality, increase nutrition and physical education, and promote physical activity in select schools. The Chicago Tribune reports that CPS has promised to have at least 100 schools meet or exceed the Gold Standard within the next three years. As a first step, CPS has adopted – across the entire school system – the Gold Standard for school meals which includes criteria for fat content, portion size, fruit and vegetable servings, and more. Along with a healthier student body, schools that achieve the challenge’s Gold Standard receive financial incentives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and a four-year certification. As of mid-August, only three schools in Illinois have met the challenge’s criteria.